Photo Credit: Our very own Michael Reaves
Everyone knows by now how tough it has been for the Flyers for the past few seasons. No Sean Couturier at times, no Ryan Ellis, and other injuries at times. However, the orange and black were competitive on most nights. Travis Sanheim had a pretty good season last season. The good thing is he knows he can be better and he wants to further his game into a more reliable defenseman, “I want to be a guy that can step up, and kind of grab a hold of those opportunities,” Sanheim said of earning extra minutes at training camp.
The 28-year-old, 6’3 181 pound, Travis Sanheim was the Flyers most steadiest defenseman this past season, as he was thrusted into a top pairing role. Paired alongside Cam York for the majority of the season, the two played well together for the most part, as Sanheim was very consistent. Sanheim is more consistent, and that has been one flaw to his ever growing game, “We’re gonna miss each other. We love that group in there, we didn’t want this to end. Each day we came to the rink we loved it, we enjoyed it,” Sanheim said back at camp.
Sanheim continued, “I came in ready to prove a point and show what kind of player I was. The first quarter of the season was probably the best hockey I’ve played.”
Sanheim has finally evolved into a number one defenseman, paired alongside Cam York until his recent injury. For his efforts, Sanheim has started the season out strong. He may not be putting points up on the board, but he’s playing very well defensively. Sanheim there’s also skating very well, which is a great sign.
He logs big minutes, and especially right now with the recent injury rash on the blue line. Sanheim registered 30:23 of ice time this past Monday night against the San Jose Sharks. Of course, that led all skaters.
Sanheim came to camp in great shape. He looks well conditioned, calm, poised, and has not made many mistakes. Flyers’ General Manager Danny Briere said that Sanheim came into camp in great shape, and was one of the most fittest players in that locker room.
Kudos to Sanheim to putting to rest all the naysayers that said he was a bad defenseman. Sanheim just seems like a different defenseman, and he isn’t being sheltered anymore. The difference is that Sanheim is confident in his game, in a sense, that he knows he can make the right plays. Sanheim has evolved into a number one Defenseman and a leader. It shows on the ice, the proof was in the pudding.
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The sky is the limit for Sanheim, as expectations of consistency will be surrounding him throughout the course of the year, “I’m here today. There’s a reason I signed here for eight years. I want to be in Philadelphia, I’m excited. I like the group that we have,” Sanheim said last season.
